Share your suggestions for evaluating schools without seeing them in person

gardenstategal
Fri, 13 Mar 2020 02:30:46 +0000

I think this is really tough. If you really understand the vibe of a school, it’s possible to see how it’s reflected in a lot of their materials. But it’s a lot harder to look at the materials and construct the vibe. It’s going to be tougher to choose for sure.

This morning I heard a piece on NPR about an escaped cow. She has been adventuring for some time in spite of numerous attempts to return her to a less wayfaring life. Some of the comments in her missing notice include “jumps well” and “is faster than she looks”. Okay. Now that you know the context, you know what those comments mean. But if I just gave you the comments, would you guess that she has confounded law enforcement and her owners for weeks? So it can go with marketing materials.

My guess is that the schools will do their best to show who they are virtually. But I know that for us, we were swayed – indeed sold – by how many people offered us directions, the humor and grace of the students we chatted with as they walked with us to the building we couldn’t find, and the ease and warmth with which such a diverse community interacted with each other and us. I really don’t know how that, which happened spontaneously and personally, gets captured virtually.

Then again, this may be the year that mixes it up a bit because it’s a little harder to find your tribe. And that might not be a bad thing either.

If there are recent alums in your area it could help, but ideally, you want to meet quite a few. The sample of one or two can be misleading.